ON THE BOWLING GREEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 29, 3 February 1913, Page 5

ON THE BOWLING GREEN.

; Writing of the final between New Plymouth and Stratford at the Taranaki Tournament, the Herald says:— j “It was after half-past four when the final between A. K. Smart’s Newj Plymouth rink and George Smart’s Stratford rink was started, and a close and interesting game was expected, opinion on the bank inclining to the opinion that George iSmart’s rink would win as they had been resting while Allan’s men had been on their feet in an exciting contest all the afternoon. Stratford opened their account with a two, but in the second head they lost four, Nat King, for a wonder, playing two bad bowls, and the skip failing with a draw and a drive. The third and fourth heads yielded one each to Stratford, making the score four all. New Plymouth scored one on the next, and on the sixth Stratford got a good thiee, 1 leading 7to 5. On the seventh they lost three and the score was 7 to 8 against them. They equalised matters on the eighth head and the prospect of an exciting game seemed assured. New Plymouth got two on the ninth head, which was a good one, Allan Smart and Paul getting in some beautiful shots. On the lentil head New Plymouth scored five, winch seemed to demoralise their opponents somewhat, and from this on it was only a question as to what they would be beaten by. They scared two on the thirteenth head, but at the seventeenth they were 17 down, the board reading 27 —10 in favour of New r Plymouth. Stratford were playing with the worst of the luck, Nat. King especially just failing with some excellent bowls; indeed, he played a fine consistent game throughout, rarely putting down a poor bowl. The.last four heads yielded two to New Plymouth and four to Stratford, the score at the finish being New Plymouth 29, Stratford 14. The game was a disappointing one for the onlookers. The leads and seconds -on both sides were playing wide, except for a few really good shots; the thirds were consistently good, but only occasionally up to their best form, while the two skips, though putting in brilliant work now and then, played better games in other matches of the tournament.” The shield was won in 1906 by New Plymouth, 1907'Stratford, 1908 Ha-j wera, 1909, Pihama, 1910, New Ply--7 7 7 7 j mouth, 1911 Opunake, 1912 Opunake, 1913 New Plymouth. THE BANNER COMPETITION. SECOND ROUND. February 6. New Plymouth v. Stratford, at New Plymouth. West End v. Stratford, at. West End. Waitara v. Inglewood, at Inglewood. Fitzroy a bye. February 13.

New Plymouth v. Fitzroy, at Fitz-

Stratford v. Inglewood, at Stratford. Waitara v. West End, at Waitara. February 20. New Plymouth v. Waitara, at New Plymouth West End v. Inglewood, at West End.

Fitzroy v. Stratford, at Inglewood. February 27. New Plymouth v. West End, at West End. Stratford v. Waitara, at Stratford. Fitzroy v, Inglewood, at Inglewood. March 6. New Plymouth v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. Fitzroy v. Waitara, at Waitara. West End and Stratford a bye. March 13. West End v. Fitzroy, at West End.